ITS Department Annual Report 2026

For a student learning Iowa State systems for the first time, OnCyte Orientation introduces the technology they will use in day-to-day campus life. During the in-person technology session, students see their daily tech routine, from checking university email to planning their walking route with the campus map. After the session, the App Bar provides a place to explore mobile apps for dining, residence life and other university services.

Before meeting with an academic advisor, the student is encouraged to complete their onboarding in Workday. If they cannot remember the password created after accepting admission, the self-service reset process restores access without requiring a support call. The student can then complete their tasks and continue with course registration.

As the semester approaches, the student may also need to give a parent third-party access in Workday to help manage tuition. If the setup does not work as expected, the IT Solution Center can troubleshoot the issue. Connected university systems also exchange financial aid information with the federal government before their first U-Bill in August. 

Once classes begin, the technology introduced during orientation becomes part of the student’s everyday routine. They connect phones and laptops to the eduroam network so connectivity follows them from classrooms to study spaces, residence halls and outdoor locations too. As questions come up, students can work through many routine needs on their own, with the IT Solution Center available when they need more help.

For the researcher exploring ways to use AI, choosing the right tools can be a challenge. A visit to ai.iastate.edu provides information about available tools, training and support. Institutionally managed access helps protect information and ensures data is not used to train AI models.

As research progresses, the next step may be adding AI to a research application. Through university-managed API access, AI models connect to existing research workflows. A Microsoft AI Foundry endpoint provides access to several models through a single service. The researcher compares options and identifies the best fit.

Projects requiring large datasets and repeated testing might otherwise involve ongoing cloud-computing costs, if not for ISU’s own high performance computing resources. Public AI models run on university compute nodes through Ollama and vLLM. A connected chat interface makes it easier to test configurations, evaluate results and refine methods.

Research IT also provides training opportunities on AI and high-performance computing. Sessions developed with the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center and the ISU Translational AI Center introduce practical techniques, while customized HPC workshops help researchers navigate questions about model selection and research workflows.

For a staff member planning an event on campus, IT-managed systems make it possible to choose and book a location. Facilities Planning and Management IT supports integrations that keep campus space information visible and accurate, so key planning information like room type and capacity is readily available. The FPM building information site lists rooms by cost center as well for coordinating approvals and access, even determining which IT teams support the in-room technology.

Outlook’s Room Finder feature also provides building details for booking an event. Planners can select any building on campus and view available conference rooms and room capacities plus the managing department. Then with collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams, event committee members can coordinate through chats, use the built-in notes tab for planning checklists and keep track of shared files.

While much of the coordination happens through email, at times it’s most efficient to reach contacts for catering, equipment rental, and transportation directly. Updated desk phones and softphone capabilities integrate with Microsoft Teams to bring calling into the university's broader collaboration environment.

When an event needs professional production, ITS Events can provide audiovisual services in-house. Recording, livestreaming, multi-camera video, portable audio and projection services can be arranged based on the needs of the event.

For a faculty member preparing courses for the upcoming semester, the Core Digital Accessibility Training in Workday Learning covers practical considerations for course content in Canvas and materials used outside of it.

And working through materials, questions can get specific: Does this video need audio descriptions? Where can I check the reading order of these slides? When questions come up, how-to articles in the ISU Service Portal provide instructions for tasks like describing images, ensuring color contrast and preparing documents for people who use assistive technology. The digital accessibility newsletter highlights the most applicable guidance, including ways that university AI tools like Copilot and ChatGPT can assist with some remediation tasks.

Faculty can also hear about accessibility updates through meetings and outreach from Digital Accessibility and Change Management leaders. Campus liaisons share information within departments, providing another way to keep up with requirements, resources and university-wide changes.

Accessibility is also supported within the technology faculty use to create and publish content. Within Canvas, AdminTools includes accessibility improvements for courses, while the university website theme incorporates accessible design practices for related program information published online. Accessibility reporting tools through Siteimprove provide another way to identify issues that may need attention.

For a student working toward an impending deadline, having technology available and working as expected becomes increasingly important. Canvas provides a consistent place to check assignment instructions and review what still needs to be completed.  

When an assignment calls for specialized software, department-specific computer labs along with licenses for students are available. For the Agronomy student doing geographic mapping, the ArcGIS software is supported on university-owned computers. Reliable campus Wi-Fi keeps them connected to finish the other assignment requirements and turn it in online. Once the assignment is uploaded, Canvas gives the student a place to confirm the submission went through and that the expected file was turned in before the deadline. 

If a printed copy of the assignment is required, the PaperCut apps connects the student with university printers, including printers right in residence halls. They can send their job to print, then use an ISUCard to release it at the nearest printing station. To request more printing credits or look up how to print directly from their phone, the ISU Service Portal contains both options. This self-service support hub is available for other tech questions or issues that come up while finishing an assignment. 

For an administrative staff member supporting cross-functional committees, bringing people together means ensuring access, coordinating schedules and tracking decisions.  

Group lists supported by Identity Services help administrative staff manage access to shared collaboration spaces. Staff also help gather information needed for focused discussion. DataMart and Power BI provide access to shared institutional data, with IT Reporting and Database Administration supporting the information behind those tools.

Delegated access in Microsoft Outlook also allows administrative professionals to manage calendars for department and college leaders. For committees with members representing several colleges, departments and administrative units, maintaining a channel within Microsoft Teams provides another option for messaging and calendaring.

University-supported file sharing keeps current agendas, reports and other materials available between meetings. Microsoft Loop also gives administrative staff a flexible place to maintain a shared agenda. With the same content can be accessed from the Loop app, a calendar invitation or Microsoft Teams, committee members can work with the agenda wherever it fits into their routine.

For a research team handling sensitive or regulated data, planning starts before any data is collected. Reviewing security rules that apply to research systems happens early on. With controlled data, the environment must meet Department of Defense Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) level two requirements.

Standards for Linux systems set by Research IT and IT Security help guide decisions where data will be stored and accessed. These standards allow the team to address requirements early instead of creating controls from scratch or later on, causing delays. In some cases, dedicated systems on isolated networks with strict firewall restrictions are needed.

Meanwhile, large datasets continue to grow. The team uses Iowa State's enterprise research large-scale storage service, including off-site copies, on-site versioning and snapshotting. As collaborators at other institutions contribute findings and review results, the storage service supports the day-to-day exchange of data that keeps the project moving forward.

When researchers prepare reports, the Biological Inventory API provides authorized access to laboratory information, including connections among principal investigators, users and laboratory spaces. Having that information available through a single source supports safety and compliance reporting while reducing the need to gather information manually from multiple systems. 

For a faculty member serving in an academic leadership role, reliable data supports better decisions. Power BI dashboards developed with ITS Reporting and Analytics give leaders a clearer view of enrollment trends, student demand and course needs. Power BI and DataMart solutions also use shared definitions across the university, so less time is spent on reconciling data snapshots and custom spreadsheets.

The same data tools also help highlight faculty accomplishments. Power BI models and integrations bring together scholarly information about publications, citations and grants.

When a college launches a new academic program, web managers use ISU Sites+ to build a website where prospective students can learn about the program, its requirements and opportunities. The site also gives faculty leaders a way introduce the program to researchers and scholars who may be interested in joining its work or collaborating across disciplines.

For growing AI efforts, faculty leaders have the expertise of AI teams to explore practical applications, including AI for academic advising. They look at where AI may improve efficiency, where human judgment remains important and how tools can be used responsibly.

For a student working on a group project, calendars shared through Outlook and the "Scheduler" feature show available blocks of time. College-specific spaces and tools also provide more options for meeting up. Students in the Ivy College of Business have Skedda, a room scheduling app, for collaboration spaces. Rooms reserved with Skedda are equipped with large LCD displays that support screen sharing through HDMI cables or wirelessly using the Mersive Solstice platform.

Sharing also extends to working on the same file at the same time through Microsoft's web apps. Depending on the assignment, students might simultaneously add citations or create presentation slides in true collaboration fashion. University-supported file storage apps keep project materials available from personal devices and campus computers, so group members can continue working independently.  

If the time comes to present their group project in class, classroom audiovisual equipment is available. General university classrooms supported by ITS AV share technology standards so the experience is consistent for students across the university. When AV help is needed, tech support is one call away, with a "cut the line" option when dialing into the IT Solution Center for quick, in-room support. 

For a staff member who’s considered a go-to problem solver, solving the problems starts with finding the right resources.

With a major technology change like the transition from desk phones to Microsoft Teams calling, Change Management helps coordinate readiness and support through preview sessions and online training. For projects like File Storage Optimization, virtual question-and-answer sessions give the campus community a way to learn more from IT leads. For someone colleagues regularly turn to with questions, these resources provide enough background to explain the change in everyday terms, answer common questions and point people to additional guidance.

For more everyday questions, staff can find solutions in the ISU Service Portal and its database of technology how-to articles. The service portal's new AI capabilities expand traditional search limitations. Its AI provides a summarized answer so a quick question doesn't require deeper reading. If the available guidance isn't enough, the IT Solution Center can answer questions or connect the staff member with a team that provides more specialized support.

Problem-solving staff can also develop more specialized knowledge of the technology used in their area. For work involving managed devices, Endpoint Technologies offers training and opportunities to learn from others. Campus group administrator meetings give IT staff a place to ask questions and strengthen their knowledge of tools like MECM and Jamf. 

For the student navigating academic requirements for graduation, planning the next semester typically starts with building a class schedule in Workday. As classes are published and updated, integrations between Workday and Canvas, supported through ISU AdminTools, synchronize course data across systems. Students can keep an eye on their performance throughout the semester and later view interim and final grades in Workday.

For graduate students, planning extends beyond a single semester. The new Graduate Academic Plan extends Workday with tools designed specifically for Iowa State's graduate programs. Students can build and update academic plans, track external credits and submit information through an approval workflow, with fewer manual forms and email exchanges.

If a student at any level needs to add a course or adjust credits after the late-add deadline, the enhanced Workday Schedule Change process routes each request to the appropriate approvers and updates the student's record once approved. With automated approvals and record updates, students receive timely information and action without the former manual delays.  

System support also comes after graduate with requests for official transcripts for job applications, graduate programs or continuing education opportunities. Integrations with the ISU transcript system, Parchment, connect transcript ordering, payment processing and delivery systems, so requests reliably move between university and third-party platforms.

For a Cyclones fan on game day, technology supports many of the routine parts of attending the event. Network-connected ticket scanners validate digital tickets as fans enter Hilton Coliseum or Jack Trice Stadium.

Once inside, fans encounter the underlying IT infrastructure in others ways. Scoreboards and video displays keep fans in the venue up to date on the game, while the same network foundations facilitate broadcast systems that reach viewers elsewhere. Point-of-sale terminals at concessions, along with tech used for event operations also rely on fiber connections and network equipment to function.

Game day also brings much heavier network use than these spaces see during routine campus operations. Network infrastructure is designed with that increased demand in mind so event systems remain available as thousands of fans arrive at once. Coordination with cellular providers also helps support increased mobile use around the venues, where fans are texting, checking scores and sharing photos and video from the event.

For the researcher who presents their findings to large audiences, the presentation is one part of sharing what they’ve discovered through their research.  A website supported by their college IT gives them a resource to consistently reference and share. Through the site, attendees, collaborators and external partners can learn more about the research before and after the event.

Complex charts and graphs are also necessary to convey methodology and results. The digital accessibility toolkit developed by ITS Digital Accessibility provides guidance for data visualizations to ensure their findings are accessible to the widest possible audience.  

Preparing for the session also means making research materials available to others. ITS Research Technology connects teams with University Library experts to share datasets through FigShare. Collaborators can review data discussed and explore it in more detail.  

The presentation itself may rely on several AV-technologies in the room. Projector screens provide a visual reference throughout the presentation, while wireless microphones support questions and discussion with the audience. Panopto extends the session beyond the room through remote participation and a recording that can be viewed later.

For the staff member who values organization, many of the university’s technology tools have built-in features for efficiency and task-management. Instead of sorting through multiple spreadsheets or searching for the latest version of a file, they rely on shared DataMart and Power BI resources for consistent information. Governed data helps people across the university work from the same source while still analyzing information in ways that support their specific needs.

Other tools help staff stay organized throughout the work day. Outlook rules and categories can automatically sort messages and highlight important conversations. Workday inbox filters make it easier to prioritize tasks, and "collections" in Cybox can group related files even when documents are stored in different locations.  

If Microsoft Teams becomes a home base, saving messages from different chats sets useful information aside in one place to return to later. For information that’s harder to track down, a Microsoft 365 Copilot license provides another option. Staff can use AI prompts to search across emails, files, chats and meetings without having to guess at file names or look separately in each app.